Cameron McGavin

Shane drives a Skoda Octavia 90 TSI, which he finds just right for urban duties but too noisy on the coarse, gnarled country roads he regularly encounters. He’s tried changing tyres, which has helped but not alleviated the problem to his satisfaction, and wants to know if there are any smallish-sized cars that might deliver the rural-road quiet and ride comfort he desires.

The budget

Not provided

The shortlist

Style and roadholding – and the big wheel/tyre combos and firm suspension settings championed by these philosophies – are so entrenched these days that even top-of-the-range luxury sedans can be susceptible to a fidgety ride and tyre roar.

So the odds might be stacked against Shane finding a humble small car that lives up to his expectations for rural-road calm.

That isn’t to say, however, that some options aren’t better than others. In line with Shane’s wish this is the defining characteristic of our three entrants below, one of which comes from a segment he might not have considered.

He can also push things in his favour by avoiding upper level models – i.e. the ones with the biggest wheels, slimmest tyres and, often, firmest suspension settings – for their daggier but typically quieter, more supple (and cheaper) entry-level brethren.

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Holden Cruze, from $19,490

This Holden’s petrol/diesel drivetrains are thirstier, less polished than benchmark rivals and there are small cars that steer more pleasingly. City driving, too, gives you plenty of time to notice the iffy cabin finish.

Get it out of the big smoke, though, and its better-than-average ability to cope with poor roads, reasonable levels of quiet and good long-term seating comfort rise to the surface. There’s little bad to be said about its space, value or ownership credentials.

For the ultimate calm we’d go for a tighter-bodied sedan over the hatch/wagon, and option the iTi turbo petrol four-cylinder, the most silver-tongued of the engine choices. Given the recent move to a 17-inch wheel/tyre combo on base models, we might even look for a tidy, near-new superseded CD with 16-inch wheels that had tyres with a taller sidewall.

Subaru Forester, from $29,990

This obviously isn’t a small car and, in a similar way to the Cruze, it’s not even the most talented all-rounder of its segment.

That’s because there are compact SUVs that drive sharper and go harder (we’re talking mainstream models here, not the turbocharged XTs) than the Forester, which also blots its urban scorecard with a petrol/continuously variable auto drivetrain that whines intrusively.

But the Subaru’s ability to iron out bad surfaces and quell tyre noise make it one of the most easygoing compact SUVs when the roads turn bad. You also get a rock-solid base of quality, safety, functionality, on/off-road competence and – if you can drive around some turbo lag with the mandatory manual gearbox – a frugal, refined diesel option.

Volkswagen Golf, from $21,490

This VW has only has two nags in respect to our overarching comfort criteria. One, upmarket 103 TSI and 110 TDI models are knobblier and noisier than the beautifully pampering base 90 TSI (like the Octavia, all petrol models call for premium unleaded). Two, it doesn’t always feel quite at home as a Cruze on really rough stuff.

Otherwise, this is the benchmark small car for open-road calm and it doesn’t show up too shabbily elsewhere, whether you’re talking about functionality, presentation, driving flair or the quality of its drivetrains.

With capped-price servicing helping to address running cost concerns, the biggest real questions are whether you’re prepared to pay more for fewer toys than you could get elsewhere and forgive the DSG auto its occasional stutters.

Drive recommends

For most intents and purposes it is hard to go past the Golf. It’s far less compromised than the Cruze and about as easy on the senses as you can expect a small car to be circa 2014.

If, however, you were going to be encountering really nasty roads on a regular basis the Holden might be a better bet, even if it’s plainly inferior in most other ways.

Or, if you were going to be dealing with plenty of rough dirt, and had do it year in year out and in all kinds of weather, the Forester’s extra cushioning, traction and robustness might just justify its cost, weight and economy compromises when compared to a small car.